In a significant ruling, the US Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for Richard Glossip, an inmate on Oklahoma's death row, reversing a prior decision made by the state's Court of Criminal Appeals. The 5-3 decision, delivered by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, emphasized that the prosecution failed to fulfill its constitutional duty by not disclosing important information regarding false testimony. Glossip, who is now 62, was initially convicted for the murder of Barry Van Treese, the owner of an Oklahoma City motel, in 1997. His conviction has been marred by controversy; he has faced nine execution dates, only to have them postponed, and he has experienced the distress of consuming his "last meal" three times.
The Supreme Court's decision was welcomed not only by Glossip but also by Oklahoma's Republican attorney general, who had joined in calling for a new trial, signaling an unusual bipartisan approach to a contentious death penalty case. Sotomayor's opinion was also supported by fellow liberal justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, alongside conservatively-leaning justices Brett Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts. Justice Neil Gorsuch abstained from participating in the case.
Glossip has consistently proclaimed his innocence, even as evidence emerged suggesting that the testimony of his colleague Justin Sneed, who was implicated in the murder, was possibly influenced by Sneed’s undisclosed psychiatric treatment. Sneed had claimed that Glossip instructed him to kill Van Treese, leading to Glossip's conviction. Despite an initial guilty verdict in 1998, Glossip's conviction was overturned in 2001, and he faced another trial three years later, resulting in a second guilty ruling.
Prominent advocates for Glossip’s cause have included Pope Francis and public figures like Kim Kardashian and Sir Richard Branson. Amid these events, the Supreme Court intervened in 2023, urging the need for a fair trial, and further proceedings will now determine Glossip’s fate as he continues to fight for justice.
The Supreme Court's decision was welcomed not only by Glossip but also by Oklahoma's Republican attorney general, who had joined in calling for a new trial, signaling an unusual bipartisan approach to a contentious death penalty case. Sotomayor's opinion was also supported by fellow liberal justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, alongside conservatively-leaning justices Brett Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts. Justice Neil Gorsuch abstained from participating in the case.
Glossip has consistently proclaimed his innocence, even as evidence emerged suggesting that the testimony of his colleague Justin Sneed, who was implicated in the murder, was possibly influenced by Sneed’s undisclosed psychiatric treatment. Sneed had claimed that Glossip instructed him to kill Van Treese, leading to Glossip's conviction. Despite an initial guilty verdict in 1998, Glossip's conviction was overturned in 2001, and he faced another trial three years later, resulting in a second guilty ruling.
Prominent advocates for Glossip’s cause have included Pope Francis and public figures like Kim Kardashian and Sir Richard Branson. Amid these events, the Supreme Court intervened in 2023, urging the need for a fair trial, and further proceedings will now determine Glossip’s fate as he continues to fight for justice.
